The Union Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday is ''disappointing'' and ill-equipped to deal with the crisis engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic, State Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has said.
The expectation that the Budget would strengthen the public sector and help generate more employment in the country has not materialised, Mr. Balagopal said, responding to the Budget announcements.
On the whole the Budget is disappointing for Kerala, he said. The State's demands, including sector-specific packages for overcoming the pandemic-induced crisis, the SilverLine semi high-speed rail project and a medical institute modelled on AIIMS, have failed to find any mention, Mr. Balagopal said.
